#Fitness YouTube sites. Keeping fit doesn’t have to be expensive. A non-fiction project.

You might remember that a while back I mentioned I was thinking about writing a non-fiction book sharing some of my thoughts on living alone. Here is that post. I must confess that between one thing and another I haven’t had much chance to work or even think about it (I’ve written some notes, but that’s about it) but a few days ago I decided to make a list of some of the YouTube sites I use that share fitness tips and workout videos.

I used to go to the gym and I’d been going for many years. Then when I decided to leave my job and explore other options (that didn’t go quite as planned, but when does anything?) I thought I might be better off finding other options to keep fit, as I might be travelling and not be able to find a gym conveniently located at all times. I must admit I might go for a run every so often but I don’t enjoy it that much. Cutting out on expenses was also important not having regular employment (and no, don’t ask, I spend more money than I make with the books, so…), so I started exploring YouTube workout channels. And I think I’m probably fitter than I was before, or equally fit, and have tried a big variety of things. One doesn’t need a lot of equipment and if nothing else it can be handy if you’re away from your usual gym or you fancy trying something new.

So, here is my list:

General workout websites

These websites share videos with a variety of workouts, in general. You might want to check through their old videos as you’re bound to find something to suit your taste. And it’s always worth trying something new, even if only to discover it not for you.

The Body Coach TV. I discovered The Body Coach through a blog post. He’s British and has videos on food, books, cookery books, he’s been on TV, etc. His workouts are short or shortish (around 20 minutes or 30 minutes the longest one) and always HIIT style (High Intensity Interval Training. Quick intervals of exercising, mostly cardio but not only, followed by shorter intervals of rest, to increase the heart rate. Scientific studies indicate that is a good way of keeping fit and more effective than longer workouts where there is no change in intensity. Tabata workouts are intervals of 20 seconds on 10 seconds off, whilst others are just called HIIT). He’s very down to earth and his exercises aren’t complicated although require stamina for sure.

Shelly Dose: I found Shelly about a year ago and she’s fabulous. She is very enthusiastic and motivating; she creates her own workouts and shares them on Mondays without a fault. Most of them are around half an hour long and they vary (usually HIIT format). She might use just body weight, or weights, do boxercise or kickboxing, fitball… And if you leave her a comment she replies. She’s high intensity but her exercises are not super complicated. Give them a go.

Mike Donavanik: Mike is a fun guy. If you go for personalities, he’s another one worth a follow. His workouts in general are short but high intensity (10 to 15 minutes) although he sometimes does some fabulous mashups where he joins several of his workouts, and then they might be as long as one hour (and if you survive them, you know you’re fit). Like Shelly he varies his programmes, with some where he uses bodyweight only, some that use weights, kettlebells, steps… He also replies to all comments and he’s good fun.

Jessica Smith TV: Jessica (and don’t miss her dog Peanut, a star… And Jessica’s Mom) has a very complete channel. She is a professional and has been working in fitness for a long time and has developed many different programmes (that you can also buy in her own website and check in her channel. They are also available in Amazon and other places). She is fantastic at giving detailed instructions and she caters for different levels of ability and fitness. She has great walking workouts, a whole series (and even a playlist. I recommend subscribing to her newsletter, as she sends regular updates on new programmes, and midweek motivational e-mails), but also pilates, kickboxing, yoga, stretching… She also does series that are worth following in full, when for one week or even a month she will share regular videos, perhaps only five minutes, or fifteen minutes. Her videos vary in length, and whatever time you have and however fit you are, she has something for you. She’s on the sedate and calm spectrum (in case you don’t go for the rise & shine approach to fitness or the Mr Motivator one). But, don’t let her gentle manner catch you unawares, I always end up sweating with her workouts.

Blogilates: Cassy is great. It took me a while to realise that all her chatting is a way to make people forget they are working hard. She’s bubbly, kind and encouraging and her attitude to exercise is fantastic (enjoy the body you have and work to be happy and fit, not to look like a stick or a magazine cover). She does her own version of pilates, has an App, and has been a guest in some of the bigger channels. Her videos are usually short, and might appear sweet, but again you won’t know what’s hit you until the next day. She also shares general advice, motivational videos, food and diet videos…

GymRa: A more traditional approach to fitness. They have different trainers and all kind of videos, from dance to HIIT, to pilates, to routines for legs, arms… You might find trainers you like more than others and there are videos for different levels of fitness.

GymRa Plus: For a while sometimes GymRa would only post a part of a video and then post the complete video here. I don’t think they’re doing that any more, but if you want to check some of the old videos you might want to keep that in mind.

POPSUGAR Fitness: This is a great channel with a variety of routines. Anna is a great coach, very enthusiastic, and she always finds trainers that come and provide tasters of popular programmes. There’s also an App (pretty good) and they have a blog where they share information on a variety of things, from fashion, to diet. The workouts go from 40 or 45 minutes kickboxing routines, to routines only focusing on one area and very short. Go Explore.

Fitness Blender: Kelly and Daniel are a great couple. Theirs is a pretty stripped down approach to fitness, without too many bells and whistles, no music (you can add your own) but focus on doing the exercises well, good technique and clear instructions. They do full programmes and series (those are a must) where they will share daily workouts ensuring you work all parts of your body over the period. They provide low impact options and will tell you the level of fitness required for the workouts. There are short, longer ones, and go from HIIT, to strength, pilates, yoga…

BeFit: With Fitness Blender one of the first channels I followed. They share celebrity workouts (Jill Michaels and Jane Fonda for instance, although not recently) and also programmes that might take other forms. They have a very long list of workouts and you might want to explore. Not as personal or personality driven as some of the others but might suit some people better if you prefer a no-nonsense approach.

PsycheTruth: This channel shares a variety of workouts, not only yoga, although they tend to be lower impact than the channels I shared before, and there’re plenty of yoga videos and health and lifestyle videos. A gentler approach to fitness and I’ve found most of the yoga videos cater to beginners and don’t require a lot of experience.

Pandora: If you want to try a variety of dance workouts, I recommend Pandora. They don’t post videos very often, but they have a nice collection, and you might want to keep doing the ones you like to improve your moves!

Although I didn’t star this board until recently, I now have a Pinterest Fitness board and you’re welcome to check it. All the workouts I share there I’ve done myself… And survived (well, if you see me not turn up, it’s possible that the last one posted killed me….)

I was born in Barcelona and have lived in the UK for many years now. I'm a writer, translator (English-Spanish and vice-versa) and I'm a medical doctor and worked in Forensic Psychiatry many years. I also have a BA and a PhD in American Literature and Film, and a Masters in Criminology. I've always loved books and apart from writing them I review them often.
I write a bit of everything, check my books for more information and my about page for links.
My blog is bilingual, English and Spanish.

Comments (39)

Yes, Debby. And she designs her own clothes and mats. Some of the instructor are very business like, but Cassy is quite chatty, yes, like a blog. Have an awesome and fit week (ah, Anna at Pop Sugar Fitness is doing a series on exercises in the swimming pool, very apt to the season, just in case…). 🙂

Good morning, Olga….a great post because the sites you have recommended could work for so many. I believe it is imperative to do something…….because as the body ages, it screams for help:) I began a ten minute stretching workout when my daughter Christie was born 41 years ago – and yes I still do it! I believe this simple exercise routine has saved by bacon on many an occasion….I am still very flexible and, fingers, toes and everything else crossed do not suffer from chronic back or any other kind of pain – which so many seem to suffer with as they age. I also walk everywhere….stopped driving when I returned to the UK/Europe win 1993, and have never regretted it….this means that just about every day I walk somewhere. Nothing to major, but again it keeps everything oiled. When I broke a wrist climbing a mountain in Wales about 20 years ago, the doctors were amazed at the way it healed, and when I mentioned my stretching routine….said it was probably down to that.
Anyway, thanks again…have been thinking of you and your Mother….as we experience a mini heatwave here in the UK….it’s supposed to reach 34 today! Back to normal by Thursday.
Janet:)x

Thanks, Janet. Everything OK (ticking along). If there are no news I should be back next in the UK, at least for a bit, next week, on Tuesday (not sure I’ll be able to reply to comments on the blog until late).
You’re right about keeping active. And yes, some of the instructors have workouts even for the days when you’re not feeling too great or just recovering from something (both Adrienne and Jessica are very good at that), but most of them will tell you to adapt the exercises and the routines to what you can do and keep going and build up. I do love walking, although I must say no matter how thick the gloves in winter my hands tend to suffer if it’s very cold. I’m posting a review of book on Friday about a man who also does (I hope still today) a lot of walking (he jokes in the book that one of his students calculated that he must have walked the equivalent to a third of the way to the moon).
I hope we might meet some time soon (I keep thinking about your painting workshops in Portugal. Let’s hope things settle…)
Thanks and have a lovely week, Janet.

Thanks, Teagan! There is a social aspect to going to the gym, that’s true and some people feel more motivated if they exercise with others, but I’ve also known people who only go there to socialize… Have a great week!

Thanks for an informative and useful post, Olga. I am always telling people that they don’t need expensive gym memberships to stay fit, and these free video channels prove that. In my case, I got a dog to help me stay fit, and to make me exercise. Younger people can do the same. They can run with the dog, instead of walking!
Best wishes, Pete.

What a terrific resource, Olga. Thanks. Regular exercise is a must if there’s any hope of counteracting the negative impact of sitting for extended periods of time in front of a keyboard. And being able to do a quick 20-30 minute routine in the convenience of your own home, means it might become more routine than wishful thinking!

I agree, Jo-Anne. I was pretty good about going to the gym when I was working as I’d just take my gym things and drive straight there from work, but when you’re at home a lot of the time it’s a bit different. I do try and start the day that way although sometimes that means I’m quite tired already, but it’s a good feeling to know you’ve done something positive. And there’s a lot of variety (that depending on where one lives might not be available everywhere). Take care!

Thanks, Michelle. Blogilates is great and she has an App too. She’s very creative. Quite a few of the other sites have some pilates workouts every so often or mix and match. Some of the ballet and barre workouts are a bit similar. Some of the exercises are not about big moves but about many repetitions. And they are killers! Enjoy!

Great list of resources, Olga! Thanks! I’m bookmarking this post so I can retrieve it a check these channels out when I need a bit more than the standard walk I do 4 times a day with my dog! I like to follow people who aren’t trying to kill me, though… 😉

Now, Lorna, don’t be so choosy! Yes, I must admit having a dog is great. If it wasn’t because I’m never in one place for too long I wouldn’t mind, although I do enjoy to try different things (some more than others) 🙂

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This is me!

I'm a writer, translator (English-Spanish and vice versa) and a forensic psychiatrist. I was born in Barcelona and moved to the UK in 1992 to train in psychiatry. After a few years I decided to go back to full-time education and completed a BA in American Literature at Sussex University (it included a year in Mount Holyoke College, Massachusetts), and a PhD on 'the Films of David Mamet'. As I never tired studying I also did an MSc (Distance Learning) in Criminology and Criminal Justice (Leicester University). Now I've decided to try and focus on writing, translating and exploring interesting stuff.
I have written short stories, several novels including different genres and two series (one YA, one psychological thriller). I also review books and I am a member of several review groups. You can find more information about my writing following the links.
If you're an author who, like me, wants to reach more potential readers, talk to me about translations. I know how important it is to be in control and I understand how much you care about your books. Let's talk about it. I am in most places but for more information check:
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http://www.authortranslatorolga.com
And for older content:
http://OlgaNM.wordpress.com

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